Dear Interested Reader,
There are an array of success stories that will delight you, from the opening of a school to the applause of the children; as well as an important road opening; to a wonderful joint concert by our 10th Mtn. Div. Band, and the Seddah School District Band; and a moving story of 192 soldiers earning their U.S. citizenship. A tunnel attack against Provincial Hall in Mosul was thwarted, while high level criminals are captured, and weapons and munition caches seized.
Joanna
___________________________________
Sept. 03, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraqis, Coalition forces open new school in Baghdad Province
FOB KALSU -
Iraqi children applaud the opening of their new school, the Al Mutasim Primary School, Aug. 28 in Baghdad Province. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain)
First Lieutenant Nicholas Farfsing, Btry B, 1st Bn, 76th FAR EO, speaks to the crowd.
Captain Robert Gordon, Btry B, cmdr., speaks to an IA soldier.
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West Baqubah road reopens
Baqubah, Iraq - A road in a Western Baqubah neighborhood that had been closed to local travelers for more than a year reopened Sept. 1. "This was in the works since early May," said Capt. Kevin P. Ryan, the officer who coordinated the opening. "My idea was to transition this area of ops back to the Iraqi people and to open the roads up, to give something back to the people." To do that, though, he had to work with Iraqi SF to set up a series of 3 checkpoints and meet conditions required to reopen the road to local traffic.
"This was the foothold of AQI," Ryan said. "So, they banned all traffic due to clearing ops and never allowed it to come back in because the situation didn't allow it. For the most part, right now, ISF is in the lead and U.S. Forces have been over-watching," Ryan said. "The Iraqi dependency on the U.S. is decreasing. That's the way we need to keep going. Today was one of the steps in the right direction. A big step."
The mayor of Baqubah cuts the ribbon to re-open a road.
(Photo by Pfc. Alisha Nye)
The mayor shows his love for the local people by kissing the child of an Iraqi Policeman.
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Music unites, entertains audience in Seddah
BAGHDAD - The 10th Mtn Div Band and the Seddah School District Band performed a joint concert during a ceremony celebrating the arts and education at the Seddah City Park in Seddah, Aug. 23.
After only one rehearsal together, the Soldiers and the Iraqi band comprised of 6 school-aged boys and 2 adult singers, a keyboardist and violinist, performed 2 songs, the Iraqi National Anthem and a nationalistic song of Iraq for a crowd of about 400 local civilians. Despite the difference in languages, the 2 groups found common ground in the music they shared. "It was a little tough to get going at first, but the music got rid of the language barrier," said Staff Sgt. Christy Knodt, an oboist with the 10th Mtn. Div. Band. The partnership between the people of Seddah and the Soldiers of 2nd Plt, C Co., 3rd Bn, 7th Inf Regt, 4th BCT, 3rd ID made this celebration possible. "Ten months ago, we would have never even considered asking the band to come down to Seddah City Park to put on a community concert," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Williams, 2nd plt leader. Today, the scene in Seddah has changed. Through the persistent work of 2nd plt and the Seddah City Council, the citizens were able to enjoy a celebration that will not soon be forgotten.
"They were obviously happy we were there, coming up to us and welcoming us," said Knodt. "You could tell everyone was in a great mood - everyone was happy; everyone was dancing: men, women and children, all out together at night, for one of the first times ever in this community."
However, the celebration was bittersweet for the Soldiers of 2nd plt. Five months ago, they lost a valuable member of their team. Sgt. Jevon K. Jordan, 32, died March 29 from wounds suffered after his vehicle encountered an IED six days earlier in Abu Jassim. "It really tested our team. We were emotionally defeated and could have very easily given up," said Williams. Because the platoon did not give up, their partnership with the citizens of Seddah and surrounding communities has produced improved governance, economic recovery, and a secure community, all of which set the stage for the celebration.
The Seddah School District Band, accompanied by the 10th Mtn Div. Band.
(Army photo by Spc. Josh LeCappelain)
Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, the MND-C and 10th Mtn Div cmdr., greets members of the Seddah School District Band prior to a performance.
Maj. Gen. Michael Oates and Col. Thomas James, 4th BCT, 3rd ID cmdr., applaud a song.
Hundreds of Iraqis anxiously await the next song.
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ISOF captured three suspected criminals in separate Baghdad operations
BALAD - ISOF captured a suspected criminal said to be the leader of a cell operating out of Haydariyah, Aug. 30. The suspect allegedly conducts attacks against Iraqi and CF in the region and is believed to be collecting and storing IEDs and other weapons for future criminal ops.
In another op, Aug. 29, ISOF captured 2 suspected criminals. One of the suspects is said to be a mid-level criminal leader and finance officer who has ties to Iran's al-Quds Criminal Elements. He is said to fund his cell's IED attacks. He is also suspected of facilitating a deadly attack against an IP officer earlier in the day and tested positive for explosive residue. The other suspected criminal is said to be the leader of a weapons smuggling cell in the Baghdad area.
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ISF apprehend criminal, disrupt weapons supplies in separate operations
BALAD - The Numaniyah IP uncovered a weapons cache, approximately 111 km southeast of Baghdad, during an op in Numaniyah, Aug. 30. The cache consisted of over a thousand various types of high explosive projectiles.
On Aug. 28 in an op approx. 170 km south of Baghdad near ad Diwaniyah, the 8th IA captured a suspected criminal weapons broker.
In al Hayy Aug. 25, the al Kut SWAT team uncovered a weapons cache in an op to disrupt the availability of weapons on the black market. The cache contained approx. 30 mortars, several hundred rounds of assorted ammo and over 20 assault rifles.
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Civil affairs team responds to Iraqi Border Patrol accident on highway
BALAD, Iraq -
A U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team 621 medic examines an Iraqi Border Patrol officer involved in a roll-over accident after his vehicle blew a tire, Aug. 22 on a highway near Jassan. The CAT 621 was en route to a mission when they came across the accident. The medic is deployed from Bravo Co., 96th CAB (Abn), Fort. Bragg, N.C., and is operationally assigned to Combined Joint Special Ops Task Force - Arabian Peninsula in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)
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IA, MND-B Soldiers seize munitions in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - IA soldiers seized weapons in the Sadr City district of Baghdad at approx. 6:30 p.m., Sept 1. The munitions included a 160 mm high explosive mortar, a 82 mm high explosive mortar with fuse and a high explosive mortar with fuse.
Approx. two hours later, Soldiers serving with Co C, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, found a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad. The cache included 31 82 mm high explosive projectiles, a 82 mm white phosphorous projectile and 150 12.7 mm anti-personnel small arms projectiles.
Soldiers serving with Co D, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, seized a weapons cache in the East Rashid district of Baghdad at approx. 12:30 a.m., Sept 2. The cache contained 300 7.62 rounds, 3 fuses and a half a block of C4.
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Tunnel attack against Provincial Hall thwarted
MOSUL - Two AQI members were detained Sept. 1 in Mosul for planning a bomb attack against Provincial Hall. During a patrol that lead to a search of a bakery near Provincial Hall, CF soldiers detained 2 AQI members who tested positive for explosives. CF soldiers were acting on a report regarding a planned bomb attack against Provincial Hall by way of a tunnel system.
Hidden tunnel under bakery.
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192 troops earn U.S. citizenship in Iraq
BAGHDAD - 192 servicemembers from 54 different countries became U.S. citizens Sept. 1, during a MNC - Iraq U.S. Citizenship Ceremony at Al-Faw Palace on Camp Victory, Baghdad. Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, comm. gen., MNC-I, presided over the ceremony and, along with Lori Pietropaoli, dep. district director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presented a certificate of naturalization to each new citizen. This ceremony was the 12th of its kind in Iraq.
"I am extremely honored to preside over such an important event for these great men and women," Austin said. "Today, we have the opportunity to welcome 192 of our fellow brothers and sisters in arms into our American family."
Austin took time to individually recognize two troops, Marine Corps Sgt. Sidney King III and Spc. Alan Wyrwa, who both overcame numerous challenges to become U.S. citizens. Wyrwa lived in communist-controlled East Germany until he and his mother risked their lives escaping to W. Germany when he was 5 years old. King came to the U.S. in 1988 and spent his first 5 years separated from his parents. He worked tirelessly to obtain a visitor's visa and later a green card to stay in the U.S. For the last 9 years, he has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, working toward his citizenship. After 20 years, he is finally a citizen.
For many, the event was the highlight of a lifetime and the beginning of many new opportunities. "I can't describe my feelings," said Spc. Steven Chol, interpreter, command sgt maj.'s personal security detachment, and originally from Sudan. "I'm so happy for what happened today, becoming a U.S. citizen.
"I'm proud to be an American," said Spc. Dodji Kuwonu, cannon crewmember, 5-25 Field Artillery Bn, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div., and originally from Togo. "I've got a lot of opportunities now. A lot of doors are open for me."
"Each of you has opened a door of opportunity through your own hard work, and through the support of your families and loved ones," Austin said. "Today, each of you has achieved a significant goal, and I know it wasn't easy, but the great news is that you aren't at the end of your journey - you are at the beginning of a new one."
More than 190 servicemembers from across Iraq wait to become U.S. citizens.
(Army photo by Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord)
Command Sgt. Major Joseph R. Allen (left), command sgt maj., MNC - Iraq, presents a servicemember and new U.S. citizen with a certicate of naturalization, and an American flag.
More than 190 servicemembers from across Iraq raise their right hands, becoming U.S. citizens.
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